Merlin Entertainments has presented plans for LEGOLAND Windsor’s development to Councillors and residents at the Windsor Town Forum.
David Pugh, consultation advisor to LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, explained at the online meeting that the London Resort “has the potential to draw visitors away from Windsor … obviously competition is a good thing but from our perspective we’re keen that LEGOLAND Windsor continues to up its game and remains competitive.”
Pugh set out plans for a new adventure golf attraction and spoke about a new roller coaster, to complement the Holiday Village development.
Adventure golf course and new roller coaster for LEGOLAND Windsor
The extra on-site accommodation at the Holiday Village will mean that more guests stay overnight in Windsor. LEGOLAND Windsor wants to create an indoor attraction for these overnight guests to enjoy in the evening.
The adventure golf attraction could be open as early as next spring and may feature two or three themed courses.
A possible site for the new construction is on top of one of the attraction’s western car parks.
Holiday Village plans go ahead
Merlin is now able to implement its plans for the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, first submitted in 2017, following a recent Supreme Court ruling rejecting a bid to cancel the planning permission.
The Royal Borough Observer reports that The Campaign to Protect Rural England had challenged the approval process, questioning whether the council had sufficiently examined the scheme’s impact on ancient and veteran trees.
However, the Court’s decision, which follows the unsuccessful challenges in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal, means that there are no more options to challenge the planning permission, issued by the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (RBWM) in 2019.
Plans for the multimillion investment in LEGOLAND Windsor Resort include the addition of 450 lodges in a new Holiday Village, featuring lodges in a woodland setting. With lodges made to look as if they are created from LEGO, the woodland setting will also feature LEGO wildlife statues.
Merlin now aims to complete the first 150 lodges by 2024.
Images: Screenshots of forum meeting
